Auto-theft indicator



E. T TAPLEY.

AUTO THEFT INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 19:9.

Patented Dec. 30,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- $51 711 QHW Mg:

E. T.. TAPLEY.

AUTO THEFT INDICATOR; \AEELICATION FILED MAY 12. 1919.

1,326,803. Patented Dec. 30,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3] .E T Tapleg $13711 aYI orrwya M g EUGENE T. TAPLEY, F SYLACA' UGA,ALABAMA.

AUTO-THEFT INDIoA'ron.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE T. TAPLnY,

I a citizen ofthe United States, residing at' Sylacauga, in the countyof Talladega and State of Alabama, have invented certam new andusefulImprovements in Auto-Theft Indicators, of which the following is a.specification. I

This invention relates to automobile theft indicators, and pertainsparticularly to alarms which utilize both audible'and visible signals.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this class inwhich the unauthorized use of the automobile is indicated .by both adetonating, audible signal and a visible electrical signal.

In carrying out my invention I provide a detonating signal which isdischarged upon the actuation of a movable part of the automobile, suchas thesteering gear, and the discharge of which closes the circuit ofthe electrical signal.

In the accompanying drawings ai Figure 1 is a vertical section of partof an automobile showing my device associated with the steering post.

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale and in section on line 2'-2 ofFig. 1, showing the parts of the. device in an operable position. Fig.3is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 41 is a detail view ofthe tripping mechanism in an inoperableposition, showin the latch inoperable position by dotte lines.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached perspective view of the detonatingchamber and contacts for the electrical signal, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ham mer.

On some movable part of'the vehicle, such as the steering post 1, acollar 2 is adjustably fastened by the set screw 3. The collar has anotch 4 in its periphery and will turn with the steering post. A housing5 surrounds the mechanism and has a cover 6, which may be a part of thefloor of the vehicle'if desired. A supporting bar 7 extends from thesides of the housing 5 and carries a bracket 8 upon which the trip lever9 is pivotally mounted. The trip lever has a hook 10 at one end and alatch 11 pivoted to the other end. The latch has cars 12 to which a link13 is pivoted. The link is pivoted at its other end to the collar 14screw 15. r

The latch fits in the notch '41 of the collar 2, and it will be seenthat rotation of Specification of Letters Patent. Patentd Dec. 30, 1919.

Application filed. m 12, 1919. Serial No. 296,417.

this post will cause the trip lever to be I moved about its pivot. Itwill also be apparent that the latch is readily lifted out of the. notch4 and swung about its pivot nto an inoperable position and held there bymeans of the set screw 15 in the collar 14..

A supporting bar 16 carries the barrel or chamber ,17 which is made toreceive a blank cartridge (not shown) of any desired caliber, and has apivoted cover 18 and a lock 19 for closing its rear end. The muzzle ofthe barrel is fitted with a movable plug 20, carrying the outwardly ex-I tending contact arms 21 connected by. suitable wires to a source ofcurrent, such as a battery 22. Stationary, inwardly projecting contactarms 23 are mounted on a flange 2 1 of the supporting bar 16 and areconnected by suitable wires to a visible signal, such as an electriclight bulb 25, which may be located wherever desired and illuminate awarning of any suitable type (not shown).

A hammer 26 is fastened to a spring 27 secured to the bar 16 in anypreferred man ner, as by a slotted pin 28 and pins 29. The hammer has ahook 30 and a striker pin 31. g

In order to insure that the plug will engage the contact arms, I providea guide 32 which projects from; the flange 24. and passes into a hole 33in the plug 20. The alarm is set by inserting a cartridge in the chamber17 and fitting'the plug 20 in the muzzle thereof. The hammer 26 is drawnback against the action of the spring 27 and on the trip lever 9. Thlatch 11 is lowered into the notch 1 and the cover 6 is locked by anysuitable means. If an attempt is made to remove the car, it will beobvious that the steering post must be rotated which will oscillate thetrip lever and disengage the hook 10 from the hook 30, thus releasingthe hammer which will discharge the car A suitable vent is provided forthe ex-.

hausting of the burnt ases. :It will be apparent that the thief Wlll bealarmed by the explosion and probably desert the car, and if not theelectrical .signal will Warn spectators that the car has been stolen.

I claim as my invention v 1. A mechanically operated theft signal forautomobiles, comprising anexplosion chamber, a striker for dischargingthe explosive, a lever engaging said striker, a

latch, means for moving said latch, and

means for holding said latch out of engagement with said first-mentionedmeans 2. A mechanically operatedtheft signal for automobiles, comprisingan explosion chamber, a striker for discharging the explosive, a pivotedlever en aging said striker and holding it in position to disa chargesaid explosive, a latch to operate a the lever and disengage thestriker, means for actuating said latch, and means for adjusting thelatch to connect it with said first mentioned means or to hold it out ofengagement therewith.

3. A theft signal for automobiles, comprising an explosion chamber, astriker for discharging the explosive, a pivoted lever en aging saidstriker and holding it in position to discharge the explosive, meanscomprising a collar having, a notch in its outer periphery, a latchengaging in the notch on the collar operated by said means to operatethe lever and disengage the striker, and secondary means for adjustingthe latch to connect it with the notch in said collar or to hold it outof engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto

